Semiautomatic vending machine



Aug. 20, 1935. c. FLElscHER SEMIAUTOMATIC VENDING MACHINE Filed July 2o, 193:5

4 Sheets-Sheet l v IN VEN TOR. Charles Fleischer BY #www SJ.

ATTORNEYS.

Aug 20, 1935. c. FLElscHER SEMIUTOMATIC VENDING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed. July 2O,v 1953 y INVENTOR. Charles Films/1er BY ai v 5 Lf ATTORNEYS.

Aug. 20, 1935. c. FLElscHER 'I y'2,011,574 SEMIAUTOMATIC VENDING MACHINE 1 Filed July 2o, 1935 4 sheets-sheeni 3- [LU l l m|||||u|||||||||||| I K INVENTOA'Q.y

WRNEYS.

l Aug. 20, l1935.

Filed July 20, 1953 C. FLEISCHER SEMAUTOMATIC VENDING MACHINE.1

4 sheets-sheet I 4 Patented Aug. 20, 1935 UNITED Vsfr/iras PATENT OFFICE f v Y2,011,574 W SEMIAUTOMATIC vENDiNG MACHINE y CharlesFleischer, Brooklyn, N. Y.`v lApplication July 20, 1933,l Serial BT03681243" 14 Claims.l (o1. zei- 146) y f This invention relates to vending machines, and more particularly, tofvending machines or, delivery cabinets of thesemi-automatic type, in `which part. of the operating cycle is automatically perv formed, and another part performed by the vendee. n f

` The general object of the invention is to provide a vending machine which will perform such a particularly attractive operating cycle as to inl() duce possible purchasers to buy from a natural curiosity to see the machine function.

Another object of theinvention is to provide a vending cabinet of the semi-automatic type in l* which the skill of the' vendee in performing the manual part of the operating cycle is made a condition precedent to the delivery of the merchandise to him. y l

A further object of the invention is to provide n a semi-automatic vending machine in which the 2'0" time of the mechanically operated portion ofthe cycle varies automatically. l

Still another object of the invention is to providea vending machine which will perform an l apparently complex cycle, butlwhose mechanism infact is relatively simple, inexpensive and troubleproof. n j Y A feature of the invention'resides in the provision of a vending cabinet having two delivery chutes, o ne of which delivers merchandise to the 3'6"r vendee and the other of which, under certain conditions, returns the merchandise vto the cabinet. Another feature of the invention resides inthe use of two double cams mountedon a single shaft to operate a grasping device by virtue of one-half 351 revolution of the shaft. .y .A

Another feature of the invention resides ih the provision of a two-dimensional lhand control in combination with' a single dimensionalautomatic control. i i

Another feature of the `invention resides in the designing of the machine in such a manner as to make several parts completely.interchangeable, thus reducing manufacturing costs. n Other objects rrand features of the invention will be more apparent from the following description to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. l is ay side elevational'view of` a vending cabinet, in section, showing the operating mecha- `l nism,

. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, -elevational view of the cabinet, showing the hand operated elements of the device, l Fig. 2a is aplan view ofthe tracks and carriage of Fig. 2,

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the Adisplay platform and delivery area of the vending cabinet, Figs. 4 and 5 are'plan views of the scoop operatingcams, n v i 4Figli is an elevational view of aportion of the cam driving mechanism, r f ,l Fig. 7 is a plan viewof the mechanism of Fig. 6; Fig. k 8 is an elevational view of the merchandise grasping device or scoop,v v f v Fig. 9 is a plan viewof the lower spacing member of the grasping device of Fig. 8, Fig. 10 is a plan View of the upper ,spacing member of the grasping device of Fig. 8,v

Fig.` 11 is a planview of one" of the levers operating the scoop or grasping device of Fig. 8,

Fig. l2 is a plan view of the coin controlled switch operatinglever, and

Fig.' 13 is a plan view of the cam adapted to coactwith the lever of Fig. l2 to open the switch at a predetermined time.

In a preferred embodiment the invention comprises a vending cabinet divided into an upper and a lower portion. The lower portion contains amotor, gearing and other unsightly partswhile the upper portion, encased in glass or othertransparent material, contains the merchandisela grasping device, and attractive mechanism for operating the grasping device. In operation, the grasping device is first moved by hand, from without the machine, to a position directly above the desired article of merchandise. Ajcoin of specified denomination isthen inserted into the machine to close the coin controlled switch. Immediately, the grasping device is lowered, closes over the article, and is then lifted. Simultaneously, the would-be purchaserv manipulates the hand mechanism to bring the grasping device over the delivery area. If the purchaser is suliiciently dex-r terous, the grasping device opens at thispoint and the article is delivered to him. Otherwise, the article is returned to the machine.'

adapted ,tol coact with the cams of Figs. 4 and 5 `in With reference to the drawings, similar desigry nations referring to similar parts, and particularly Fig. l, numeral I5 designates generally (a. vending cabinet divided by a horizontal partition or table I6 into an -upper portion I'I and a lowery portion I8. The lower portion is completely enclosed by wood or other non-transparent material, while the upper portion (see Fig. 3) isen-v cased on three sides by glass or other transparent` material. A heavy non-transparent back I9 extends the Afull length of the cabinet. n. l Consideringthe lower portion I8, a motor e2I1-is mounted on back I9. A vertical shaft 2|, supported in lower bearing piece 22, is adapted to bek driven by motor 20 through gearing 23. Worm Wheel 24, mounted in a suitable bracketl 25, meshes with and is rotated by Worm gear 26 on the shaft 2|. A double cam 21 (see Fig. 13') is mounted on shaft 28 carrying worm wheel 24. A slotted lever 29 liits over the end of the shaft 28 in such a manner that a pin 36 near one end of the lever 29 is in constant engagement with the face of ,cam 21. The other end ofthe lever '29 is adapted-to operate movable member of the'coin control 'switch3ll'I (Fig. vl). In operation,'a coin inserted in tube 3| trips'the movable member of the coin control switch 30, thereby closing an electrical circuit, including themotor 20. .Worm

gear 26, onshaft 2|, rotates worm wheel 24 and thus rotates cam 21. The cam, in engagement with pin 3U (see Fig. 13) causes lever 2-9-to move`A to the right. When lthe pin vpasses the highest point of the cam 21, the leverr29 operatesswitch i' 30 to break the electrical connection and returns the switch to itsloriginal position.

In .the upperl portionV |1- of the cabinet I5, mounted on the back I9, is an upper bearing piece 32,-adapted to-support a grasping device operating mechanism.` This mechanism comprises a frame 33 mounted for -rotation about thev endof the bearing .piece 32.` -The shaft y2| passes through the center of the hub 34 of the frame 33` and terminates in a.. Worm gear 35,- (see Figs. 6 and k'1). A wormwheel 36,l suitably. fastened to a shaft r31, journalled in bearings zon` frame 33, meshes Withworm gear 35l and is adapted to be rotated thereby. A double cam 38 (see Figj4) is mounted on one end. of the shaft 31 and a comparable double cam v3!)"`(`see Fig'.` 5) is mounted on thev other end thereof.r Levers 46`and4| (see Figs. 1 and 11), mounted on oppositeisides-of frame 33 and fulcrumed on theends of the frame,

. have their pins 42 land 42a in engagement 'with the face of theA respectivecams 38and 39l The other endsof the levers and 4| carry cables -43 and 44, 4which. cables operate the scoop Vgenerally designated 45, in a manner- -whichwill hereinafterA be made clear. Generally, 'the scoop is lof the type. in which independent movement of one cable `43 `is adapted-to .open and Vclose'the scoop, while lsimultaneous movement of both cables 43 and 44will lift and lower it.

For the. purpose of rotatingwthe frame 33'and. thereby, ascanbe understood, positioning" the scoop, a hand wheel 46, through gearing 41, crank arm 48,? connecting .link 49- andv crank arm .50,is adapted to rotate vertical shaftr 5|. Shaft -5| kis journalleilv atits lower endl in fthe lower bearing piece 22 and atits upper end in the upperbearing -piec'e32.l Alinkage .52 connects va crank arm 53 on'the upper end of vthesh'a'ft 45| with a crank arm 54'on the lower end of thelhub 34." 'With reference to Fig.l 3, it can be seen that the` table I6 providesa space on which articles of merchandise 55 can be'convenientlypositioned. In'the frontandknearzthe.center of the table, I6 'is provided la delivery area generally 'designated 56.

'Iliedelivery area is divided into tw'oportions. 51 andBJ One portion (51) leads back to the machine, a'ndfthe 'other (58) VVlea'dsjto a vendees receptacle 59 in the front wall of the'cabinet I5;

In operation, thewoul'd-be'purchaser first roi-` tateshand wheel' 46 tojbringfscoop 45 above'the desired article 55.` `The-`purchaser thenk inserts a coin in the tubev 3 I, which, as'was described, Vcloses switchI 30 to place'I motor 2 [Ii-in operation, thus rotating shaft 2| andv its associated' partsf *'Asa result,`-worm geert-35,l in mesh with worm*wheel 36, causes the'camsl 38 andr39 to rotate in the directiongindicated inFig'. 1. vThe :pins 42 and 42a on the ends of levers 40 `and 4| follow the curvature of the cams 38 and 39. Thus, as the `cams rotate, levers, 4|) Aand 4I are simultaneously lowered, thereby lowering cables 43 and 44, hence scoop 45. -As the pins drop into-the depression 60, the scoop drops very suddenly to get a, digging Thereafter, the two levers move simultaneously v and lhence'1ift the scoop with its article from the When the two pins approach the upper- Y-most part of the cam, the scoop is in its uppertable.

most position, and as can be seen from Figs.y 4

Y and 5K, as they pass over the hump 6I there will be vanotherrelative movement of the levers. As a result, lever 4|wi1ldropto a greater extent thanlever 40'and the scoop will open, releasing its article. Simultaneously,v with this mechanical .,movement, the purchaserhas rotatedlhand wheel 46ltobring. the scoop-over-the delivery.

area. If properlytimed, the scoop will open at just the right point and the article will drop into 58, and hence, into receptacle 59, from which theV purchaser may remove it. 'Howeven if'thepurchaser is slow, or if in'hishaste, he hasA caused the cable to swish past the vdelivery area,the article is dropped either back-.to table IB or into the return portion 51 lof -the delivery area. As

can be seen, this-adds a speculativeclement to.r

the selling devicewhich `is usuallyrvery attractive.

With `the opening' ofthe scoop, the operating cycle is complete. Therefore, at thispoint, motor 2l! -should be stopped. y To this end, as hasbeen previously described, caml21operates lever 29 to open ,the -switch and to reset it in its 'ori'ginal position. y

It is of particular importance to note that Iby applicants unique design, worm gears 26 andi-35 may be made identical, and similarly, their re-` spective `worm,wheels 24 and 36 are identical.

,'Ihus, one half revolution of wheel 36 completes the lowering, graspingliftingand opening of the scoop, while: one-half revolution of worm wheel 24`opens and resets thefswitch.l

Fig'. 2 shows a. variation of lthe device of 'Figi .11.'

In Figi 1, it will be noted Ithat 4the operationfof the scoopis in two directions, to wit, a mechanical lifting and lowering, and a manual radial movement. In Fig.2, applicant' kprovides manually operated lateral, as well as :radialv movement, plus the sameA mechanically operated flifting and'lowering action. `To this end, the upper rbearing piece 32, of Fig. 1, is replaced with a bracketl com-4v prising a pair of tracks62 and a wheel carriage 63 adapted to ride onvtra.cks ,62. y The rotatable frame 33 Ais suitably'journalled onthe carriage rIhe hub 34 lof framev 33 is extended down- Wardly to al point below table,v I6 andata point inserted in the vertical shaft 2|. yBy rextending the-hub 34,' applicant is enabled. to join connectinglink 49"directly to the crank arm 5,4 withoutv utilizing an intermediary shaft'such as 5| ofFig.'

and' crank arm 68 is adapted t'orotate shaft'69.'Y The shaft 69 is comparable and similar in all' respects to'shaitflpf Fig. 1. ,A crankgarmlv 1lir jbelo-w the end of the hub a universal ljoint 64 is designvof` vcams 38 and 39 'is of .particular importance. `As has been'stated hereinbefore, one-halLrevolution of 'the cams vaccomplishes alcomplete operating cycle.'r4 Obviously, then, `ra

complete lrevolution 'accomplishes .two cycles. Therefore, -in order that the device may fimction l properly, the critical points B0 'vofb'oth halves `of a cam (38, for example) are comparablyplaced, that.is, if :cam'f 38 were dividedr along the ldotted linesotiFig. 4, and the Atwo halves compared, the critical points 60' would coincide, but it would be I immediatelyA apparent .that'the' points 6I dofnot quitecoincide.4 In other words, the face 'of vone half vcamis .slightly longer thanlthe face'of the other halfLvThe same thing'isftrue of the cam 39. ftTherefore, in operation, the time required to complete'V an *operating cycle on one half the camisf greater thanthe time required to compete an operating cycle on the other half. Thus, with eachfsuccessive cycle',r the Vtime 'of operation changes. 1 Thus, in 'order that the article may i: bedeliveredto'him, thefvendee mustbe skillful in lcperating'the hand movements to coincide with the varying mechanical 'movements of the machine. l l A 'Withreference tothe scoop, any form of the 7 particular type here'inbeforey described may be utilized. `In liig.A 8, applicant illustrates lone particular form'comprising three4 jaws 12 ,pivotally connectedfat'13'to`fa lower spacing 'member 14. Links',-'15'pivotally" connect the jaws to an upper spacing member 16. The lifting cable 44 is rmly attached to the spacing member 16 by means of set`screw 11, while the closing cable 43 passes through hole 18 in the upper spacingv member 16, over the pulley on the lower spacing member and is firmly attachedto the upper spacing member by means of set screw 11. While 43 and are, in eifect, two separate cables, in actuality, it is one continuous cable. In operation, a lifting or lowering of 44 causes a lifting or lowering of the complete scoop 45. An independent movement of the cable 43, ho-wever, either lifts or lowers the spacing member14, and as a result opens or closes the jaws 12. As can be understood, a relative movement of the cables 43 and 44 will cause an opening or closing, while al simultaneous movement of both cables will causea lifting or lowering in either open or closed position.

Since certain changes may bemade in the above construction and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all' grasping device, means for radially positioning f said grasping device, means. for; :automatically lowering,'lifting and openinglsaid graspin'g'.'de'- vice, 'andmeans for automaticallylistoppingsaid y lowering, lifting and determined time. c l. 2.. In a vending machine, a table for Isupportingv articles of merchandise, a passage fondelivering Y articles of merchandiseto La vendee,"a'grasping device, means-'for operating. said graspingM-fde vice including a plurality ofdoubleicamsgi said cams being arranged tocausca lowering; closing, lifting and opening of said graspingl device during one half revolutionthereof, an'dindependently operable vmeans forP positioning"saidvgrasping device at. a desired point .above` the v`articleson` saidmerchandise platform, and for moving 'said grasping device towardsl said passageway during the operation of said first mentioned means;

3. In a vending` machine, .an automaticdeliv-' ery. mechanism including a .grasping"device,"a plurality ofv cables :for operatingfsaid: grasping deviceya plurality of levers for 'operatingfs'aid' cables, and aplurality 'of' double ca'msforloper-` ating said levers, the halves ofisaid' double cams being of different lengths. i

4.- In a vending machine, Aan automatic-deliveryxmech'anism including a grasping deviccla plurality 'of cables for operating saidfgraspingdevice, aplurality oflevers for operatingisaidffcables, a plurality yof 'doublecams.forperatingi said levers, the halves of saiddoublecarnsbelng of different lengths, amotor for'drivingsaid'cams, and a double cam operating intimed relation'vto` said rst mentioned doublecamsxfor stopping said motor.. z Y' "i 5. Ina .vending machine, a platform for-1 sup` porting" articles o'f merchandise,` `a `delivery.'chute;`

a grasping device.: meansv for 'automatically oper'--` atingL said "grasping device, and meanslfor: posiL tioning said grasping device over a desired article before the operation of said automatic means, and manually operated means for moving said grasping device toward said delivery chute during the operation of said automatic means.

6. In a vending machine, a platform for supporting articles of merchandise, a delivery area including a chute for delivering articles of merchandise to a vendee and a chute for returning articles to the vending machine, a grasping de. vice, automatically operated means for opening, lowering, lifting and closing said grasping device, a first manually operated means for moving said .device radially about said platform and a second manually operated means for moving said grasping device laterally of said platform whereby the grasping device may be positioned above a desired article on the platform prior to the operation of said automatic means and may be moved towards said delivery area during the operation thereof.

'7. In a vending machine, an automatic delivery Amechanism including a grasping device, a plurality of cables for operating said grasping device, a plurality of levers for operatingsaid cables, and a plurality `of simultaneously operated double cams for moving said levers, said cams being adapted to varyA the time of operation of said grasping device.

8. In a Vending machine, an automatic `delivery mechanism including a cable operated grasping device, a pair of levers for operating said grasping device, a pair of double cams for operating saidl levers, the halves of the individual cams being of different lengths. f

9. In a vendingv machine, a cabinet, a table withinrzfsaid, o cabinet;Y fortY supportingl articles :of merchandise, a; passageway for discliarging mer-1 chandis'e, fromff the I inside to the: outside :of said cabinet, 5s. g'r`aspingfd'e'vice, motor operated means for lowering, closing, lifting and 'opening said grasping;l device, and manually operable means torpositioning the graspingdevice over a desired artlclevpriorfto 'the operation` of said first meng Vtienedmeans and for moving said Vgrasping device over said passagewayduring the operation or! 'said rstfmentionedf'meansn v1). -'In'.ajvending machineya cabinet, a'table within:.sthe cabinetfor supporting articles of merchandise, av passageway Afor discharging merf chandise from the inside to the' 'outside of said cabinet,z a; grasping'device, 'motor operated means for' 4:loweringpclosing, lifting; r and openingv said graspingy device, and manually operable means foiipositioning'thegrasping device'over a desired article. prior to the operation Yof .said rst mentionedfmeansfand for moving said device over said passageway-during the. operation thereof, said grasping 'device beingv movable both .radially and laterally by` the operation of said second men- ,f tioned means.

=`=11.:-Ina-vending machine, a cabinet, a mer@ chandise platform. within said cabinet, a-deiiveryv areafin 'said' platform, saiddelivery area being relativelyfsmallwith respecttto the remaining part I; offsaidplatform, a first passageway leading from saithlelivery,areato the outside-of said cabinet, a

secondz-'passageway'fleading from said delivery embody-the inside yof 'said ,cabinet',xsaid passage-o vaysbeingopositioned side byv side so as to A'be indistinguishable asviewed from above said'nfier` chandi's'e platform, va grasping device, means for autmnaticallyv lowering; closing, lifting and open.- ingsaidgrasping device,- and manually operable Y meansforpositioning said. grasping deviceabove a 'desiredfarticle on isaidlplattormrpriomtotheoperation of 'said' iirstA mentionedi means; andfiior moving Vsaid grasping devinez rover..saldaf--delivery area/during: the 'operationthereoiV 12.' In a: vending machine, a table forsupportel ing'articles of merchandise, a delivery area formed in isaid table; a grasping 'device,-: meansincluding a double camk yfor z automaticaliy'lnwerig; closing;

lifting and opening said grasping device; manually operablemeanssfor ,positioning the graspingde vice above vadesiredarticle. on' the;table .priorf to the operationI .of said, :first mentioned means `and for moving said grasping devicefltowards'said vielivery'f-area during the foperation .ihereofffthe halves' of ."said lfdouble' cam i-being roi' diiIei-ent lengths. 'f A L 'f .13. In a vending machina: a table; for-'supporting -articles of v-mercl'iandis'efa delivery-:area formed in said table, a grasping device, means iii-1 cluding a plurality :of fdouble cams for autonmti-f` really'y lowering; closing, lifting fand opening :said grasping device, manually 'operable-means itor positioning said grasping device f above` a desired article non :said tableV lprior lto 'the operation of said 'first mentioned means,v andrfor moving-said grasping device towards'saiddelivery during they operationthereof.`

14. Ina vendingmachinefa:tableiorsupporting articles of merchandisaa passage 1orjdeliver ing articlesv of vmerchxamdise `'to-t1: vendee,` a. grasp'-v ingl device; means for' automaticallyw'operatingv cHARLEsimEIscHaa. y Q 

